The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advocates a general
approach to waste management called source reduction. This means solving waste
and other pollution problems as close to their generation point as possible.
Waste that is never created, never needs to be disposed. Waste that is recognized
as a resource can be used over in one form or another.

In practice, source reduction means reducing the amount of potential trash
and hazardous wastes entering the household as well as reducing the toxicity of
that waste. The less waste that comes in, the less that goes out. We can do this
by shopping more thoughtfully and looking for products with no unnecessary packaging.

A simple reduction in the overall volume of waste will help our country
and our community. Less space will be used for landfills, and less incinerator
ash will be created (with fewer hazardous materials).